The 2014 season will be the second on the coaching staff for Derek Shunk, who is one of the most recognizable teams in the recent history of the Villanova program. Shunk serves as the Wildcats hitting coach and is also the program's recruiting coordinator.

Since joining the coaching staff Shunk has been an integral part of the program's successful recruiting efforts. Villanova heads into the 2014 season with an incoming class that includes 12 freshmen and two transfers. This group has the potential to pay immediate dividends for the Wildcats with a number of power arms on the mound and several highly recruited position players with advanced hitting skills.

In his first year as the Villanova hitting coach Shunk saw Tyler Sciacca bat over .300 for the third consecutive season while earing second team All-East honors and becoming a draft pick of the Chicago Cubs. Shunk was also instrumental in working with a large freshman class of hitters who were thrust into immediate starting roles.

First baseman Max Beermann hit a team-high six home runs and was one of four freshmen to start in at least 40 games. Third baseman Kevin Jewitt was also part of that young group and has been named a 2014 preseason All-BIG EAST selection. As a team Villanova drew 222 walks and averaged better than five free passes per game between walks and hit batters.

Shunk is a 2008 graduate from Villanova and holds three school records while ranking in the top-10 in school history in eight different offensive categories. Shunk is one of just two players in Wildcats history to be a three-time All-BIG EAST selection.

During an incredible collegiate career Shunk broke long-standing Villanova records for games played (216), at-bats (831) and hits (291). He broke the all-time hits record midway through his senior season and his final tally of 291 hits is 49 more than any other player to come through the program. Shunk also ranks fourth in school history in total bases, sixth in walks, runs scored and runs batted in, as well as tied for eighth in doubles.

In his final two seasons on campus Shunk led the Wildcats to back-to-back appearances in the BIG EAST Championship. He batted .357 in 2007 as Villanova reached the conference tournament for the first time in 10 years and earned a No. 6 seed in the playoffs. One year later Shunk hit a torrid .377 with 86 hits and 123 total bases when the Wildcats returned to the BIG EAST Championship and started postseason play by knocking off No. 1 seed St. John's in a 12-0 rout that Shunk helped power with two home runs.

At the end of his senior season Shunk was drafted in the 17th round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft by the San Diego Padres and spent one season playing in the Padres minor league system.